Father-daughter duo sold fake Banksys and Warhols to NYC’s art houses in $2M scam
A father-daughter duo, Erwin Bankowski and Karolina Bankowska, pleaded guilty to orchestrating a $2 million art fraud scheme involving fake works attributed to artists like Banksy, Warhol, and Wyeth. The forgeries, produced in Poland, were sold through prominent New York auction houses and private dealers, some of which unknowingly facilitated the sales. The pair faces prison time, restitution, and potential deportation after admitting their guilt in federal court.
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US News Father-daughter duo sold fake Banksys and Warhols to NYC’s art houses in $2M scam By Associated Press Published April 30, 2026, 6:15 a.m. ET A little over a year ago, the New York City art dealer Robert Rogal received a visit to his private showroom from a young woman, who seemed eager to offload a family heirloom. Introducing herself as Karolina Bankowska, she carried a framed painting signed by Andrew Wyeth, resembling the watercolor landscapes the celebrated artist had completed early in his career. Intrigued, Rogal accepted the piece on consignment, figuring it might fetch between $20,000 to $30,000 at auction. “The provenance was a little fuzzy,” he said. “But she seemed credible.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at New York Post.
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